![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-27-at-11.56.27-AM.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tOverview:<\/p>\n
The National Banking Association’s annual meeting focused on organizational growth and the state of the economy, but also on how to deal with challenges amid the Trump administration. The organization has experienced 4% growth in bank assets and has enough capital to double in size, but challenges persist, such as keeping up with technological advances and working on partnerships with large institutions. The Trump administration wants to support small businesses, which are the engine that drives the American economy, and reduce rules and increase transparency.<\/p>\n
\t<\/p>\n
By James Wright Jr.<\/p>\n
While organizational growth and the state of the economy were top priorities during the\u00a0National Banking Association\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0(NBA) annual meeting Oct. 2-3 at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Northwest, many people focused on the organization\u2019s strategy on how to deal with challenges amid the Trump administration.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year\u2019s conference is about momentum,\u201d said\u00a0Todd McDonald, chairman of the NBA board of directors.<\/a>\u00a0\u201cThis is a tall order.\u201d<\/p>\n McDonald discussed the organization\u2019s growth, throughout the years\u2014 from the pre-civil rights era, when African Americans heavily utilized Black banks, and then later as companies faced the challenge of existing and growing when mainstream banks opened up.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had 4% growth in NBA banks assets last year,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cWe have enough capital to double in size. Plus, we have grown by 14 members.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite continued progress, the board chairman said challenges persist, such as banks keeping up with the latest technological advances and working on partnerships with large institutions.<\/p>\n As they work to support one another, McDonald emphasized that NBA members must also continue to support small businesses.<\/p>\n During the two-day event,\u00a0Mark Calabria, chief statistician of the U.S. White House Office of Management and Budget<\/a>, told the gathering that small businesses are the engine that drives the American economy and the Trump administration wants to make sure they are supported.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are working to reduce rules and increase transparency, \u201cCalabria said in an interview with\u00a0Kevin Boyce, founder and chairman of Adelphi Bank<\/a>\u00a0based in Columbus, Ohio. \u201cEveryone can compete on a level playing field. Black banks have a niche with small business lending. We want to help you do your job.\u201d<\/p>\n Weighing in on the current administration\u2019s midterm outlook,\u00a0Ja\u2019Ron Smith<\/a>, who works for the CGCN Group in Northwest as a policy expert, also emphasized the wealth of small business opportunities during the second Trump era.<\/p>\n Smith, a Howard University educated former White House staffer who worked in the first Trump administration, said that things are moving fast and intentionally.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have to put on your safety belt the first year,\u201d said Smith,\u00a0 a Howard University educated former White House staffer who worked in the first Trump administration. \u201cKeep a steady pace and keep the relationships you have built. There is work in creating jobs and opportunities in vulnerable areas. There are greater opportunities for growth for small businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n While Smith admitted the president\u2019s rhetoric can be daunting\u2014 saying \u201cTrump is always Trump\u201d\u2014 he encouraged the NBA members not to get discouraged.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important to reach the advisors around him,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are diverse voices behind the president, and they have their agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n Two political analysts,\u00a0Ashley Etienne,<\/a>\u00a0a communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris and\u00a0Matt Rhoades,<\/a>\u00a0the campaign manager for the Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign, told the members that 2026 elections could produce a split Washington landscape.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Democrats should win the House,\u201d Rhoades said. \u201cMany people are interested in what Hakeem Jeffries will do as speaker. The number one issue is the economy and if things are not going well, that will be good for the Democrats.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Etienne agreed with Rhoades that Democrats could take back the House in the midterm elections, she said that is not the point.<\/p>\n \u201cThe economy is an important issue, but the question will be, for Hakeem Jeffries,<\/p>\n Are you a good leader?\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cWill he be an effective leader? He is the minority leader now and that is the easiest job.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published on Word In Black<\/a> on October 27th, 2025<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n